Method of making mosaic work.



No. 702,328. Patented lune l0, I902.

. J. s. PARKER.

METHOD OF MAKING MOSAIC WORK.

I (Application filed June 20, 1901.\ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet L YWM Ym-k L A No. 702,328. Patented lune l0, I902;

J. S. PARKER.

METHOD OF MAKING MO SM C WORK.

(Application filed June 20, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN] S. PARKER, on Z ANI svILIQE, 01-110.

M THOD 0F MAKING M'OS'AIC'WORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,328, dated June 10, 1902. Application fildll'unc 20, 1901. herial No. 65,354. (No specimensd ready to be put up forany of the purposes mosaic is commonly employed, and particularly for walls, ceilings, and ornamental work.

It is, furthermore, designed to have the mosaic product strong, durable, light, and inexpensive and to insure a uniform shade in each individual color of the mosaic blocks.

To fully illustrate the invention, I have shown the successive steps in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1, 2, 3, and 1 illustrate the initial steps in the production of the mosaic blocks. Fig. 5 is a plan View illustrating the manner of setting up the design. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of acompleted piece of mosaic work. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken through adjacent mosaic slabs secured to a ceiling in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective View of a portionof one of the fastening-beads for securing the tiles to a wall or ceiling.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention it is designed to employ transparent material, preferably glass, for the mosaic blocks and to have such blocks of angular shape. To produce the blocks, there is employed a sheet of glass 1, as shown in Fig. 1, which is scored across one face, as at 2, to produce a plurality of thin grooves extending entirely across the sheet and also parallel. The opposite side of the glass is then scored, as at 3, and transversely with respect to the scores of the former side ofthe glass. It will be understood that this sheet of glass may be originally colored or transparent, as may be desired, and if transparent the coloring material may be applied to one side only thereof prior to or after the scoring thereof. In practice I prefer to apply the coloring material to what is to be the backs of the mosaic blocks by means of a roller, as'in the manner of inking type, so asto evenly distribute the coloring material over the sheet of glass.

After the glass has been broken up into blocks a, which may be square, as shown, or of any other suitable or desired shape, they are then set up to form the desireddesign in in the manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6. For convenience in setting up the design there is provided a cellular frame consisting of a back or base 4:, into the upper face of which are set intersecting metal strips 5, which project slightly above the upper face of the back, and thereby form a plurality of cells of the desired shape and size to loosely receive the glass blocks, which are placed in the cells according to color and to produce any design whatsoever. As best indicated in Fig. 6, it will be seen that the blocks are separated by the metal strips forming the cells, and the upper edges of the cells terminate short of the upper faces of the blocks, whereby the latter are exposed for the application of a sheet 6,

having adhesive material thereon, so as to stick to the blocks. It will be understood that the blocks are set up with their colored faces downwardly, and after the adhesive sheet has been applied to the upper faces thereof aturuing-board is applied to the upper side of the sheet and the entire device inverted, the setting-up frame then being removed, thus leaving the mosaic blocks stuck to the sheet and in the form of the required design, there being marginal interstices between adjacent blocks.

The next step consists in providinga body or back 7, as shown in Fig. 7, and providing the same with a coat of cement 8, and then the set-up blocks are applied to the coating of cement and beat firmly down into the same, so that the cement may be forced upwardly into the interstices and thereby firmly secure the blocks to the backing. The paper or other sheet 6 is removed in the beating down and evening of the blocks, so that the latter are finally exposed to View, thereby producing a composite mosaic slab of any de sired shape, size, and design which is applicable for any of the purposes to which tile is commonly employed. For securing the tile th us formed to a ceiling, as illustrated in Fig. 8, there is employed a plurality of Wooden slrips 9, which are secured transversely across the joists, one of which has partly been shown at 10. These strips are spaced equal to the size of the slabs employed, and the latter placed against the lower faces thereof. In View of the fact that it is impossible to form openings through the slab for the reception of fastenings there is employed a metallic fastening-strip 11, which is secured to the exposed edge of the Wooden strip, so as to lie flat against the adjacent edge of the slab, the outer edge of the metallic strip being bent into an enlarged head 12, which overlaps the outer edge of the slab and forms a supportingshoulder therefor. Thus each metallic fastening strip or bead forms an ornamental covering for the joints between the slabs, and the shank portions thereof fit snugly between the adjacent slabs and are suspended from the wooden strips. In applying the slabs to walls the beads run horizontally and the slabs rest one upon the other.

By forming the mosaic work from colored glass a uniform color may be obtained, and by applying the coloring material to the backs of the blocks said color is protected against wear.

It will be understood that each slab is com-' pleted at the factory and shipped in its completed shape, so that the slabs maybe readily set up, thereby obtaining a mosaic effect without requiring the employment of skilled labor.

The essential feature of the present invention resides in the production of the glass mosaic blocks, whereby a strong, light, durable, and inexpensive mosaic is provided which 'will not craze in the manner of ordinary ceramic mosaic work.

What is claimed is The herein-described method of making glass mosaic work and of securing uniformity of tint or coloring of the blocks, said method consisting in applying coloring-matter to one side of a sheet of glass, then scoring the opposite sides of the sheet, the scorings on one side being at an angle to the scorings of the opposite side, then breaking up the plate into blocks in accordance with the scoring thereof, then setting up the blocks in an ornamental design in a cellular frame with the colored sides or faces undermost, then applying an adhesive sheet to the exposed faces of the block, then inverting the cellular frame and removing the same from the blocks, then applying to the back of the blocks and the spaces between them a coating or backing of cement for holding said blocks in position, and finally removing the adhesive sheet, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. PARKER.

\Vitnesses:

FRED J. LoosHETER, JOHN W. TILLIAMS. 

